Jadeja delivers to Smith, and he’s bowled out! What an exceptional delivery. Jadeja strikes on the very first ball after a significant break, and this delivery is nearly impossible to play. It starts with a drift towards the leg-stump, or perhaps just outside it, landing on a perfect length.
Then, as it pitches, it viciously turns across Smith’s forward defense, covering a considerable distance before kissing the top of the off-stump. Smith can only offer a wry smile, acknowledging the sheer brilliance of that delivery.
He knew he had no chance against such a masterful delivery. Another well-set batsman falls victim just as he was appearing menacing.
Australia’s captain, Pat Cummins, made the call to bat first at the MA Chidambaram Stadium as both his team and the Indian hosts embarked on their 2023 World Cup campaigns. In the Indian lineup, Ravichandran Ashwin was included, while Ishan Kishan was slated to open the batting, as Shubman Gill was absent from the squad entirely. India started strongly, as Jasprit Bumrah dismissed opener Mitchell Marsh in just the third over.
Subsequently, Steve Smith and David Warner formed a solid partnership for Australia, accumulating 69 runs from 85 deliveries before Warner’s departure, courtesy of Kuldeep Yadav. On paper, neither team held the status of clear favorites.
Name – Ravindra Jadeja
— βππ§π ππ¦π₯ππ π (@imAnthoni_) October 8, 2023
Job – Making Batters stand in the middle clueless with his sharp turns π₯
Rockstar For a Reason π₯΅#RavindraJadeja #CWC23#INDvsAUS pic.twitter.com/StQqY43oGq
India had indeed triumphed over a weakened Australian side in the initial two matches of the three-match ODI series a mere 10 days ago. However, with the return of Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Starc for the dead-rubber encounter, the Australian team seemed like an entirely different proposition.